My esteemed co-conspirator, Tony Atchison, is celebrating a big birthday (they are all big these days…). He’s left an indelible mark on Downtown Mobile’s historic buildings and landscape. Many years ago, he renovated an old four-story warehouse off Dauphin Street into a stunning antique gallery and home. 

Together with his wife, Sylvia, they created Atchison Home, an upscale home furnishing and design business now owned and operated by Jack McCowen and Andy Freeman. After selling the business and retaining the property, Tony and his son, Taylor, converted the top three floors of the building into Atchison Lofts, and the beautiful Atchison Home store now occupies the entire first floor.

Tony has worked closely with the City of Mobile to save and renovate several other historic properties, including the Smith’s Bakery building, where Red or White is located. Down the street on Dauphin, Tony and Taylor purchased, renovated, and leased the old Red Cross Building at Dauphin and Broad Streets, where Bay Gourmet and Crown Hall were located before their recent move, and also converted another property on Dauphin Street where Chuck’s Fish is located. 

More recently, Tony and Taylor purchased the old Crystal Ice House and transformed it into the Ice Box Bar, where the Velvet Pig eatery is located. Taylor was instrumental in converting several other properties in the historic districts of Mobile into single-family homes, lofts, and upscale residential, including the Old Shell Road School Lofts, Marine Street Lofts, and Broad Street Lofts.

I guess Taylor is a chip off the old block, but much better looking; he gets that from his mom! I hope you enjoy this look back on how imagination and innovation can have such a huge impact and effect on so many vibrant businesses in our area. Just click on the links above to access the stories we’ve featured, showing where the Atchison family has left their mark.

Happy Birthday, Big Daddy, and thanks for all you do!